Israel, God's Eternal Plan
Israel, My glory!
Israel! Wow! What a subject of wonder, and what a wonderful subject! Who can say enough about Israel? The whole world these days talks about Israel! Like her or not, she is in everyone's conversation! Do not misunderstand my zeal for her, please. I do not worship Israel for a moment, but I worship the God who created her for His glory and Who loves her with an everlasting love! In a manner of speaking, you could almost say that God is also "crazy" about her; but He does not worship her, either.
While we get excited about all that Israel stands for, we must remember that she was created from the dust of the ground, and she demonstrated as great a rebellion against God as any people-group in history. Notwithstanding, we should readily acknowledge God's plan for her from the beginning - and it is awesome, to say the very least! When it comes to stories about nations and kingdoms and peoples, there is none that compares with the story of Israel.
There I go - sounds like I am worshiping Israel again; but nothing could be further from the truth. Every Christian who is knowledgeable of God's Word, and balanced in his or her thinking, should love Israel; but none should adore her. An obsession with Israel, or with Israelis, can quickly lead someone into a hyper-Zionist mentality, leading them out of balance. Unfortunately, there are many who have gone over the edge in adoring her, just like many who go over the edge in other areas of Bible truth. However, even keeping our love for her in balance will tip the scales toward her and her destiny. She is the center of the earth; the point of the Cross; and the one around whom the whole world is revolving at this very moment. Throughout her story, she encompasses all that is good and bad in humanity; she is the one through whom God has revealed His greatest love, and though whom He shall reveal some of His greatest judgment.
When we speak of Israel, we should probably begin by defining just exactly what we are discussing. There is the land of Israel, the land that shall never end. Then there are the people who are born of the natural seed of Abraham, the first official Israeli. Then, there is the Israel of faith - those who have been grafted into Israel by grace through faith in the finished work of Israel's Messiah, Yeshua, the anointed One, and the Savior of all those who believe, better known in the English language as Jesus Christ.
(to be continued)
Specially Selected Scriptures about Israel
to be posted soon